contrary / in reverse / inside out or upside down / to reverse / to return / to oppose / opposite / against / anti- / to rebel / to use analogy / instead / abbr. for 反切[fan3 qie4] phonetic system
反
=
⺁
+
又
:
A protester (mnemonic symbol for 反) makes a racket in the anthill's living room (an3). He's got a huge banana tree (⺁) with him and wants to protest against the exploitation of banana farm workers. Frankenstein's Monster (f) is annoyed by him and punches him with a boxing glove (又).
恐
=
巩
+
心
:
A terrorist (恐) is harassing Karl Koala (ku) inside of the engine ((e)ng3). The terrorists frightens (恐) Karl so much that his heart (心) jumps out of his body. The terrorist then quickly grabs Karl's heart and uses a padlock (巩) to lock it away to blackmail Karl.
战
=
占
+
戈
:
James II of England (zh) prepares to fight a war (战) in the anthill's bathroom (an4). He has a spear (戈) as a weapon and a yellow umbrella (占) as shield, following his hero Leonidas.
争
=
⺈
+
肀
:
Mnemonic symbol: The grim reaper, as 争 is often used in words involving war (...战争). In front of the engine ((e)ng1), the grim reaper (争) marks his next victims in passing. With a crayon (肀) he draws big "X"s on the crane (⺈) and James II of England (zh).